CLASS MM TRACK AND FIELD: Hillhouse girls run away with 12th state title (video, photos)

New Britain-- Action from the Class MM State Championship track meet held at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. Hillhouse's Precious Holmes on her way to a meet record and a first place in the 200-meter. Peter Casolino/New Haven Register 05/31/12

Moore added that he is going to rehab and is working on walking again. His condition has inspired the Academics.

"It really motivates me," junior Precious Holmes said.

And Hillhouse looked like a team on a mission Thursday. The Academics won eight events and set three meet records. Holmes and Davis highlighted the performance.

Holmes won the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.04 seconds and the 400 with a mark of 54.42, setting two meet marks. Meanwhile, Davis set the 800 record with a time of 2:15.61. She also won the 3200 (11:24.78) and placed second in the 1600 (5:10.07).

Briana Sims won the 100 hurdles (15.31), freshman Jaliyah White took first in the 300 hurdles (45.33), Hillhouse won the 4x800 relay (9.49.99) and finished the day with a victory in the 4x400 relay (3:58.43).

The Academics strength in a wide range of events is the most, Moore said, he's probably had in his 20 years of coaching. That will likely be critical in Monday's State Open.

Other top finishers in the girls' meet include Wilbur Cross' Deanna Jones, who won the triple jump (36-02.50) and finished second in the long jump (17-04).Teammate Chaslynn Saucier won the 100 (12.47) and placed second in the triple jump (34-10). Sheehan's Tara Lee won the shot put (37-08).

On the boys' side Tolland captured the team title with 75 points. New Fairfield placed second with 57.25 and Hand came in third with 54.50 points.

Sheehan's Tom Lupoli, who opted not to run the mile for strategic purposes, took first in the 800 with a personal-best mark of 1:54.95.

"I figured if I drop the mile, I can focus on the 800, and run a pretty good time and set myself up for the next meet," Lupoli said. "In the first 400 I felt great. I felt extremely confident after that."

Also in the boys' meet, Law won the 4x100 relay. Jason Binder, Joe Piselli, Justin Sherrick and Najee Smith finished with a time of 43.06 for the Lawmen.

But it was Hillhouse, who owned the spotlight on Thursday.

"They're really good kids," Moore said. "They're very concerned. They're a good group of kids and this definitely keeps your spirits up."